Forbes revealed its annual 400 list of wealthiest Americans ranking in October, and as it turns out, the wealthiest Black person in America is IT entrepreneur, David Steward.
According to Forbes, Steward is estimated to have a net worth of $11.4 billion accumulated through his IT business establishment.
David Steward is the founder and chairman of World Wide Technology (WWT), which has partnerships with major entities like Cisco, Verizon, and the federal government, offering solutions across artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, data analytics, and more.
Steward attributes much of his success to America’s culture of opportunity.
Under his leadership, WWT generates more than $20 billion annually, with $6 billion of that coming from international markets.
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According to the WWT website, the company’s mission is to emphasize its “delivery of groundbreaking solutions that redefine businesses, revolutionize industries, and transform communities.
Having David Steward on the list in the Forbes 400 listing and also being recognized as the wealthiest Black person in America makes him the highest placed for a Black individual on the 2024 Forbes 400.
David Steward’s beginnings were quite humble, though his story is one of perseverance and faith.
He was born in 1951 in the then-segregated South Clinton, Missouri, and he grew up with seven siblings.
David Steward did not have a fairytale life because he faced many challenges in his early life, mostly due to the systemic racism of the time.
The segregated historical discrimination, which placed limitations on access to quality education, income gaps, and unequal pay, made it hard for many Black Americans to build wealth, but the narrative is gradually changing.
